Vanuatu seeks to cancel Andrew Tate’s ‘golden passport’ citizenship
A spokesman for Vanuatu’s government says there is a ‘lapse’ in Tate’s case under the citizenship-for-sale scheme
Vanuatu has vowed to close loopholes in its “golden passport” scheme and take steps to nullify citizenship granted to influencer Andrew Tate, who reportedly bought the island nation’s travel document before he was arrested in Romania on charges of rape and human trafficking.
Tate obtained the passport in December 2022 through a programme that allows foreigners to buy citizenship for US$130,000, the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) said in a statement on Monday.
That month, he and his brother, Tristan, were held in Romania where they were charged with rape and human trafficking.
Vanuatu’s passport trade, which also offers applicants visa-free travel to dozens of countries and the right to acquire property, has come under scrutiny over its ties to sanctioned individuals and suspected money launderers.
A government spokesman acknowledged that Tate’s case was a “lapse” in the citizenship-for-sale initiative and pledged to enhance background checks to maintain the “credibility” of the country’s passport.
“We’re definitely looking into it and once we have the files, definitely the processes will be in place to revoke his citizenship,” Kiery Manassah told Australian public broadcaster ABC.
“Of course, those that are wanted by their country or are being investigated by police authorities from overseas are not wanted, not welcome to be part of the citizenship of Vanuatu.”
Aubrey Belford, an investigative journalist with OCCRP, said that Vanuatu sold golden passports “because it’s a nice little moneymaker” and the system had been exploited by organised criminals trying to evade law enforcement.
The head of Port Vila Council of Women, a community-based group that promotes gender equality in Vanuatu’s capital, said the country’s passports should not be given to infamous people like Tate.
“[They] will teach the other males here in Vanuatu to do the same thing,” ABC quoted Jane Iatika as saying.
Andrew Tate has millions of followers on social media, where the former professional kick-boxer promotes his often misogynistic views.
The Tates, dual US and British citizens, who have denied the allegations in Romania, were separately charged in the UK with rape and other crimes last month.
The pair will be extradited to London after the conclusion of legal proceedings in the Eastern European country.
Concerns over Vanuatu’s passport scheme prompted the European Union to suspend its visa-on-arrival access for visitors travelling from the Pacific country to the Schengen area in 2022.
The programme also attracted attention in March when Vanuatu cancelled a passport it had issued to Indian fugitive businessman Lalit Modi.
Responding to Modi’s case, Prime Minister Jotham Napat said a Vanuatu passport was a “privilege” and that applicants must seek citizenship for legitimate reasons.
“We have zero tolerance for those seeking to use our citizenship programme to evade justice. If that is your intention, I strongly advise you to look elsewhere,” Napat’s office said in a statement.
